The King of Kings was born in a stable and cradled in a trough designed for sheep and cattle. His parents had never traveled extensively. He was born from the tried and tested common clay of humanity. Yet heaven celebrated the day of His birth by producing a dazzling star that led kings and wise men to discover the Savior of the world. Shepherds in the fields and kings from afar both experienced this good news of great joy—not because their circumstances were joyful, but because God had spoken. They lived under the iron fist of the Roman Empire. It was a day of trouble, yet when they heard the word of the angels and saw the star in the sky, they looked beyond their circumstances and rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

Today, whatever your circumstance, I want you to look beyond your trouble, because God is on His throne. God knows who you are. He knows where you are. He knows how you are. Look beyond your sickness, because the Healer walks among us. Look beyond your tears, beyond the chaos of our society, beyond your broken heart. Look into the darkest night of your life and know that joy comes in the morning. Quit thinking about every unhappy thing that has happened in your past. Look for the star that brings the message God loves you, and everything is going to be alright. Merry Christmas. Look for the star. Everything is going to be alright.